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Recruitment and Retention Strategies for International Students at UW-Richland
1. Recruitment and Retention of International
Students: Best Practices at the University of
Wisconsin-Richland
Dr. Patrick Hagen, CEO/Dean
Regional and Branch Campus Administrators Conference
June 15, 2015
5. Strategic Planning
Goals 2012-2017
Increase UW-Richland’s
international population to
50 students
Add a new dormitory at
Campus View Corporation
Increase International
Student Coordinator from
75% to 100%
7. Recruitment Strategies 1
Market Guaranteed
Transfer to UW-
Madison
Prioritize Independent
International Students
Promote YFU/IREX for
Diversity
8. Recruitment Strategies 2
Sister-city Relationship
with Yueqing, China
Work with Agents on a
Contract Basis
Work with English-
language
Institutes Abroad
9. Recruitment Strategies 3
Collaborate with New
Office of
International Education
Work with English-language
Institutes in Wisconsin
Work with Former UW-
Richland Students
The place: UW-Richland is one of 13 freshmen/sophomore campuses in the University of Wisconsin System. Our mission is transfer. We offer the Associate of Arts and Science degree and a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science degree-completion program. Each fall we enroll over 500 students. Our FTE in fall 2014 was 330. The campus is located in rural Richland County. Our student housing accommodates 150 students.
In November 2014, the Wisconsin State Journal ran an article in the Sunday paper, front page, above the fold entitled “Tiny Campus, Global Footprint.” Last fall, we enrolled 52 international students from 20 different countries and territories. This was a 225% increase over our fall 2010 international enrollments. International students now make up 10% of our student population. I want to share with you a bit of our success story, especially focusing on recruitment and retention of international students.
UW-Richland’s foray into international education began after the war in Grenada in 1983. CASP stands for Cooperative Association of States for Scholarships. CASS stands for Central American Scholarship Program. Students from the Carribbean, Mexico, and Central America attended UW-Richland for 2 years and earned a liberal-arts associate degree with an emphasis in computer science. This program was administered by USIA in D.C. In the 1990s, requirement for the CASP/CASS programs changed and because we lacked affiliation with a technical college, we became ineligible to participate. Our work with Youth for Understanding began in 1994. Initially, involvement with YFU brought Freedom Support Act Scholars to campus from the former Soviet Union. Over time, we became involved with YFU’s Community College Program. This brought diversification of the international program. Both programs had the advantage of requiring home stays. This resulted in a strong relationship between UW-Richland and area families. We rank third in the nation for hosting students in YFU’s CCP.
As we began working on our campus strategic plan in the spring of 2011, we were aware of a number of things. Graduating high-school classes in our region were going down and wouldn’t start to increase until 2018. A new middle class in Asia in particular was increasingly seeking undergraduate education in the United States. Our new revenue-based budgeting in UWC was providing us with incentives to develop market niches. An independent international student brings us 2.5% the tuition of a resident student. International students, especially those from Asia, were interested in our Guaranteed Transfer program to UW-Madison.
From fall 2010 to fall 2014, we increased our international student populations by 225%. Our new dorm West Hall was opened in fall 2014, and our international student coordinator was increased from 75% to 100% in summer 2014.
Guaranteed Transfer to Madison requires 54 degree credits earned at UW-Richland and a 2.8 GPA. Independent students pay over twice the tuition. IREX students come from Pakistan and Tunisia.
Summer camp with Yueqing. Tried to open an office in Wenzhou but that didn’t pan out. Summer ESL camps. Agent fee is $600 per semester for the first academic year. So, a student costs us $1200, but if the student stays for 4 semesters they pay $24,000 in tuition. That’s 5% of the tuition $$. Agents including West Africa, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, Indonesia.
Established two years ago. Recruits and organizes programs, especially in Asia and the Pacific Rim. Two language institutes in Madison, Wisconsin—WESLI and MESLS. Former student from Ghana has created a program for recruitment of students from top schools in Ghana. It’s called Implact beyond education.
The cohort system is a bridge program that starts in the country of origin. Students take UW-Richland courses in their country and then transfer as a cohort to UW Colleges’ campuses. We’ve coordinated recruitment with our economics/business professor from Southern China.
Revenue increase from fall of FY11to FY15 by a factor of 4.6.
There are two key players in running our program. Total FTE 1.16.
Reasons for non-retention: academic final probation, bad adjustment to study abroad, early transfers, 2 deported.
Bonding—create a community that can work together. Live in the dormitory—relationship building, with American students, too. Academically savvy—approach professors, learning about academic and personal support, technology on campus. Understand campus culture and expectations—promote interaction and involvement
The certificate does not appear on the transcript, but students are recognized at Graduation & Awards Night.
Certificate Requirements: Participate in a club, lead/organize an activity, attend a leadership or training workshop, attend a public meeting or presentation on campus, attend or participate in a global engagement or cultural celebration on campus, and a volunteer component—20 to 200 hours of community service
A strong international program means success for the campus and community. Academically, culturally, socially, and financially. Five-year growth was 225%.
